UCLA Journal of Radiation Oncology_SS 2025_FOR PRINT - Flipbook - Page 36
UCLA RADIATION ONCOLOGY JOURNAL
noted the researchers.
“These 昀椀ndings highlight the potential of this dual therapy to
substantially improve survival in glioblastoma models,” said He.
Researchers were also surprised to 昀椀nd that glioma cells can change
into microglia-like cells, a type of immune cell in the brain. Normally,
these two cell types come from completely di昀昀erent origins during
development. Microglia come from mesoderm, a layer that forms
things like blood and immune cells, while glioma cells are thought
to come from ectoderm, a layer that forms brain and nerve cells.
However, in the unique environment of a tumor, these cancer cells
can adapt and "switch identities" between di昀昀erent types of cells.
“Our ultimate goal is to one day transform the standard of care for
glioblastoma,” said Pajonk, who is also a member of the UCLA
Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Eli and
Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell
Research at UCLA. “By targeting glioma cell plasticity and
leveraging the multipotent state induced by radiation, this research
o昀昀ers a promising strategy to disrupt tumor progression and
enhance patient survival.”
Although the study shows promising results, the researchers
observed that some mice eventually experienced a recurrence,
emphasizing the need to re昀椀ne dosing and explore alternative dosing
strategies to improve the long-term durability of tumor response.
Other study authors, all from UCLA, are Daria Azizad, Kruttika
Bhat, Angeliki Ioannidis, Carter Ho昀昀man, Evelyn Arambula,
Mansoureh Eghbali, Aparna Bhaduri and Dr. Harley Kornblum.
The study was funded in part by grants from the National Institutes
of Health, the National Cancer Institute, the California Institute for
Regenerative Medicine, the American Cancer Society, and awards
from the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center
and the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and
Stem Cell Research at UCLA. ☐
Contributed by: Denise Heady
Denise Heady is a science communications and media relations manager at
UCLA Health. She covers the clinical cancer program along with basic and
clinical translational research for the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive
Cancer Center.
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